Profane side table by Richard Yasmine
Materials: Tala noir marble, polished brass, neo cement on metal and treated metal
Dimensions: 183cm x 133cm x 118cm
For the lovers of hybrid objects, I believe a product should be designed and sculpted as an art piece; it starts with a dream, passes by the first lines to end with the desired result, without messing with the main aim of it, which is the usage.
Mixing different materials together in order to create a beyond an ordinary functional product, in a chaotic order with a touch of imaginative visualization, creates my entitled “profane “.
It’s a multifunctional product with an edgy concept, consisting of multiple-sized concrete domes as bowls and marble discs as trays connected to removable conical metaphorical tubes or legs made of brass, mechanically turned representing architectural forms and shapes.
The product is a philosophical fusion with a symbolism of iconic architectural and ornamental elements inspired from the combination of roman, ottoman, baroque, Indian and byzantine religious places and castles interpreted into smaller mystical shapes sometimes to cover or to hide and seek a certain reality, or to highlight another – from where the statement behind “profane” is “see, hear, speak”.
Profane is another divinely sensational design that can be used as a decorative and practical home accessory for a daily use like presentation bowls, serving trays , buffet setup or even as a surrealistic purpose like most of my hybrid objects.
If we combine the different parts of “profane”, we can make unlimited pieces with variations in heights and functions.
Why profane
Because it’s not concerned with any religion or religious purposes, it hypnotizes you till you start wondering about the story behind those different objects.
You will figure it out, a magical harmony of “secrets “revealing the factual spirit of the concept.
Richard Yasmine a Lebanese interior architect and product designer, filled with imagination using his imaginary world as a simulation to try out new ideas and create new objects inspired of life, objects and emotions, the human body: physiology and needs, but also focuses on internal chaos combined with a certain innate sensitivity; sometimes extreme and provocative or even not expected by others but still minimal, bold, and straightforward without disguising or hiding true reality. He never tends to identify the difference between reality and imagination this what helps him creating intriguing and controversial design objects yet complicated in the process of production however this is distinctive in his personality.
Trying always to incorporate a fresh approach sticking to his culture and tradition, frequently in a muddled process but a precise immaculate result not following any specific period or trend but a reflection of his own image. Integrating the Middle Eastern specifically the Lebanese knowhow and spirit within the recipe of each of his products; collaborating with craftsmen, consequently to reveal the oriental feel through an extravagant aspect, searching to spread the marriage between tradition and new technologies, by keeping his signature identity of commotion mixing craziness to sobriety with a touch of fantasy.
He showcased his work at la biennale de St Etienne, Paris design week 2015, Milan design week 2016/2017/2018, Beirut art fair 2015/2016, Beirut design week 2015/2016, Dubai design week 2016 and in design junction during the London design festival 2017, Some of his designs has been featured consecutively in Interni, Domus, wallpaper, living-corrieredellaserra, ad, Icon, ideat, elle decoration, monogram, dezeen, design boom, design milk, highsnobiety, the national, Madame, 7daysuae, interiors, Arch newspaper, interior design NEW York, l’orient le jour and many other local and international blogs and magazines … he has been selected by Esquire MIDDLE EAST between the 6 designers to know about in the middle east for 2017 and his work has been featured between the best of Dubai design week 2016 on Yatzer and best of Milan design week 2017 again on Yatzer. He has been interviewed by Elle décor Italia as the Lebanese designer talking about his city Beirut in the “secret Beirut” article as one of numerous other city guides.
As for his latest news he showcased in 3 different spaces lately during Milan Design week 2018 and for the first time collaborating with the eclectic Italian brand JCP universe, his latest HAWA Beirut collection and WAKE UP CALL has been selected between the best of MDW18 on Yatzer, yellow trace, Domus, dezeen, design boom and many other press all around the globe, he has been nominated for the emerging designer of the year by Dezeen, lately he revealed his latest work Ô-CULT the water sanctuary, commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy curated by la Triennale di Milano design museum, new pieces to be showcased April 2019 during Milan Design Week.